Operationalizing Equity in Urban Redevelopment: A Justice-Centered Metrics Framework

Abstract

This article introduces the Justice Metrics Framework (JMF) for incorporating equity into urban sustainability using measurable indicators and a dashboard-based approach for monitoring. Building on research at the intersection of GeoAI, environmental justice, and eco-gentrification, this argument suggests that urban “improvement” should be evaluated through both distributional and procedural justice outcomes, rather than just technical performance. Methodologically, it offers a conceptual and design-oriented framework, illustrated through the Gowanus Canal Superfund redevelopment rather than a complete empirical evaluation. The JMF operationalizes six indicators: an Affordable Units Ratio (AUR) and Local Housing Retention Index (LHR) to monitor affordable housing provision and displacement risk; a Stormwater Burden Mitigation & Storage Ratio (SBMSR) and Combined Sewer Stress & Capacity Index (CSCI) to track how infrastructure changes redistribute hydraulic risk; a Community Participation Score (CPS) to quantify procedural inclusion; and an Environmental Health Burden Index (EHBI) to assess cumulative exposures. These indicators are integrated into an open-data dashboard that combines spatial, socio-demographic, and environmental datasets. The model supports transparency, continuous monitoring, and community oversight, providing a replicable tool for municipal agencies, community organizations, and private developers to assess whether sustainability investments advance or undermine equitable urban renewal. KEYWORDS: data justice, equity metrics, urban analytics, sustainable urbanism, environmental justice, GeoAI, Gowanus Canal